The Nikon D400 (D9300?)

Rumours about the replacement for the D300s

The D300 was announced in August 2007 and the D300s in July 2009

The age of the camera suggested a replacement for 2011, but nothing appeared in 2012...

Nikon still hasn't produced any good prime lenses specifically for its DX (crop) format, and with Dxxxx cameras moving up in specifications, some have wondered if there is a place at the top level for Nikon's DX range?

If nothing tuns up by the end of 2015, then many may wonder about Nikon's support for the concept of pro-level DX cameras.

19th A D7200 is expected before mid-March [NR], but still isn't looking to be a Canon 7D2 match (specs still lacking though), although a Japanese website had a suggestion that Nikon would indeed launch a pro level 7D2 competitor... at some time.

I note that this sounds not unlike what we were hearing a year ago...

2014 December

12th No signs of a high end crop camera from Nikon, with a D5500 for January and a D7xxx later [NR]

3rd A high end D9300 crop sensor camera is mentioned [NR] - the suggestion is that four digit model mumbers will signify a crop (DX) sensor.

February

26th Once again, in some Canon 7Dmk2 information we were sent, we hear that neither Canon or Nikon are in a rush to update and that Canon is aiming for the 7D2 to sit above this year's possible D7200 (considered more likely than any D400).

I'd note that this was a Nikon reference in some Canon info we were sent, that hardly falls into the rock solid category, so usual caveats apply!

Nikon wouldn't comment in any of their CP+ interviews, whilst Canon continues with their '7D follow up - sounds a reasonable idea' response.

2013 August

7th Nikon announce a new 18-140mm DX lens. TH suggests that this could mean the D400 (or even a D7100S) is likely

July

10th After a flurry of 7D mk2 rumours, I'd wondered if there was D400 info coming up...

At NR, there is a suggestion of an August/September announcement (with some new lenses).

May

31st Suggestions of a September announcement for a 24MP D400 - maybe pushed back to the start of 2014 if the 7D2 isn't appearing [PL]

20th At Pentax forums [PF], there's a supposed copy of a page from Japanese magazine “Camera Japan”, there's a slew of 'predictions' for 2013: Nikon D7100 in March, D400 in June and a D4X in October. September is slated for the Nikon 2 - presumably another mirrorless...

11th A German camera store has Nikon event in Germany in September [NR]

More speculation from Thom Hogan [TH] puts a D4 and D400, announced in August, as what people will see.

June

28th Second half of August is still a strong suggestion for D4/D400 [NR]

May

30th Some $250 Nikon instant rebates in the US [NR] - only a few lenses and DX bodies...

26th Nikon have said their launch schedule is unaffected [NR] and a major Nikon announcement is supposedly due for the end of August.

11th We're hearing (thanks) of Nikon reps downplaying any new product announcements. Whilst not referring to any particular camera, the suggestion was:

'...if you need a new camera, buy one, don't think something new will be available any time soon'

This matches up with shortages of pro level cameras we're hearing of from many Nikon and Canon sources - of course finding one in stock is another matter...

4th There are suggestions that an August announcement is still expected [NR] - also, the D300s is getting a bit long in the tooth, announced in July 2009 (D300 Jan 2008)

Nikon DSLR timeline

Market
position

Sensor

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

Flagship

FX_Res.

D3X

FX_Speed

D3

D3S

D4

D4S

DX_Res.

D1

D1X

D2X

D2XS

DX_Speed

D1H

D2H

D2HS

High

FX

D700

D800(E)

D810

Df

DX

D100

D200

D300

D300S

Mid

FX

D750

D600

D610

DX

D70

D70S

D80

D90

D7000

D7100

D7200

Better

D50

D5000

D5100

D5200

D5300

D5500

Entry

D40

D40X

D60

D3000

D3100

D3200

D3300

Video capable No focus motor

D300s

Features

The D300S brings HD movie capability, a faster frame advance rate of 7fps and dual CF and SD memory card slots. Built upon the D300, the D300S incorporates the same DX-format 12.3 megapixel CMOS sensor, professional 51-point autofocus system and EXPEED image processing in a discrete compact body.

Virtual Horizon that is available in Live View shooting.

3-in., 920-k dot high-resolution LCD monitor.

Highly efficient energy-saving design allows as many as 950 images on a single charge of the Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e. (CIPA Standards)

Custom Setting e3 Flash cntrl for built-in flash (e3 Optional flash when an optional Speedlight is mounted on the camera) can now be added to My Menu using the Add items option in My Menu from Add items>Custom settingmenu>e Bracketing/flash.

The degree of the High ISO NR setting can now be confirmed in the shooting info display while the High ISO NR setting item, in the shooting menu, is being applied.

Ankara, Riyadh, Kuwait, and Manama have been added to the Time zone options for the World time item in the setup menu.

When a GPS device is used and no heading information is available, —.–° is now displayed for the Position>Heading option in the GPS item in the setup menu.

When shooting in live view mode using Camera Control Pro 2 (Ver. 2.2.0 or later) with a PC-E lens, the aperture setting can now be adjusted from the computer.

Focus acquisition performance in dynamic-area AF mode has been improved.

Focus acquisition performance with contrast-detect AF has been improved.

Auto white balance performance has been improved.

The fourth digit in seconds display for GPS latitude and longitude information is now rounded off rather than omitted.

The current MB-D10 battery type setting can now be confirmed in the shooting info display when R6/AA-size batteries are used with the Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D10.

An issue that caused an increase in noise with shooting in [M] exposure mode at a shutter speed setting of bulb with the shutter held open for less than 8 seconds and Long exp. NR enabled has been resolved.

An issue that prevented shutter release at the specified shutter speed when no operations were performed for 30 seconds in mirror up mode has been resolved.

An issue that caused abnormal image display when Image review was set to On and the playback zoom in button was pressed immediately after shooting at the following settings has been resolved.

Image quality: NEF (RAW ) + JPEG

NEF (RAW) recording: Lossless compressed or Compressed

Image size: S or M

When the Speedlight SB-800 was mounted on the camera with flash mode set to distance-priority manual (GN) mode, and the camera recovered from standby mode triggered by the auto meter off function, the distance information displayed on the SB-800 changed. This issue has been resolved.

For further information regarding the new firmware, download the supplemental document for the new firmware, D300_FirmUp_(11)En.pdf.